Interrogating the Approaches of Christian-Muslim Encounters in West Africa

precis:

Both Christianity and Islam have become African religions with significant followings, living together in various communities of West Africa. The obvious Christian and Muslim encounter that ensues also calls for critical study. This essay examines the multi-faceted approaches (traditional, modern, and postmodern) that feature prominently in discussions of Christian-Muslim relations in the sub-region, offering a critique of them with regard to the planting, spread, and encounters of the two great religious traditions in West Africa. None of the approaches discussed here is confined to or limited to a particular period in history or to particular people. Thus, in West Africa, the approaches have been used at different times by different people and often concurrently. The essay recommends a holistic, communal approach to rather complex encounters between Christians and Muslims on the West African scene for peaceful coexistence.